But in that 30-minute interview, Jackson and Smith mischaracterized the NJ.com story several times. Here's what they got wrong:

Smith said the NJ.com report stated that Jackson is in a gang.

In the story, Los Angeles police said there was no evidence Jackson was in a gang, but that they believed he was associated with reputed gang members, and police were troubled that Jackson was flashing gang signs on social media and in NFL games. (When the story was published, the NFL said it would look into whether Jackson was flashing gang signs, which would be grounds for discipline.)

LAPD Detective Eric Crosson said in the story: "You don't want to see anybody throwing up gang signs like he did in the Redskins game last year. Those were neighborhood Crip gang signs and he flashed them during a game. He may not be affiliated with the gang, but they don't [ordinarily] take kindly to those not in the gang throwing up those gang signs."

During the interview, Smith said, "You are not associated, or do not hang out, with any gang members."

Jackson, however, admitted during the interview that he associates with gang members, just not when they're doing "negative things." Jackson tried to make the distinction of hanging out with gang members as individuals while not being affiliated with their gangs.

"Do I know friends that are out there involved (in gang activities)? Yes," Jackson told ESPN on Friday. "I try to stay away from them. ... I'm definitely aware and know certain gang members, but as far as me being affiliated and me being a gang member, never not have once been. Never have had any affiliation with going out and doing things that are against the law."

Later, when addressing the gang signs, he said, "... if you see signs or if you see me in pictures with affiliated gang members or whatever the case may be, that sign I am throwing up is to connect me with me and my boys," he said.

Smith implied the story about Jackson's alleged gang ties was leaked by the Eagles to NJ.com.

The conspiracy theories surrounding the story are comical. NJ.com uncovered Jackson's ties to alleged gang members through its own reporting. The Eagles played no part in NJ.com's investigation. When asked about Jackson's alleged gang ties, team officials said they were unaware of the ties and would not comment.

During the ESPN interview, Jackson said he knew about the story a few days before its publication -- because NJ.com reached out to his representatives for comment and to speak with Jackson. But Jackson was not made available, and his publicist's sole comment was to deny Jackson was in a gang, an accusation the story never made.

Jackson said he distanced himself from Theron Shakir, his friend and a rapper who performed for Jackson's music label, while Shakir was on trial for murder.

"Through the process, and the time where (Theron Shakir) was in jail, I kind of had to almost step back," Jackson said during the ESPN interview. "Because I'm a professional athlete. I know the ties of being around, or being seen, or making calls, or doing all that stuff that could easily make me be apart of it," Jackson said.

Jackson's instagram account, however, told a different story. Jackson posted a picture of Shakir during the trial, pleading for his release.

After the NJ.com story was published, Jackson deleted all photos of Shakir and him from his account, as well as other photos shown in the NJ.com reporting.